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United States Patent |
6,086,223
|
Fogle
,   et al.
|
July 11, 2000
|
Pad lock lighting devices
Abstract
The invention is of a design for both an internally based design feature
and add-on accessories, both of which provide lighting which is directed
to the dial(s) of conventional combination pad locks. Applicant's
invention permits lock users to operate pad locks in darkened conditions,
without needing any ancillary lighting or lighting accessories
(flashlights, etc.).
Inventors:
|
Fogle; Mary (P.O. Box 2322, Kerrville, TX 78029);
Price; Steve (P.O. Box 232, Hunt, TX 78024)
|
Appl. No.:
|
039542 |
Filed:
|
March 15, 1998 |
Current U.S. Class: |
362/253; 70/25; 362/23 |
Intern'l Class: |
F21V 033/00 |
Field of Search: |
362/253,23,100,116
70/25,51,330
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4078248 | Mar., 1978 | Hill.
| |
4683741 | Aug., 1987 | Fields.
| |
4964023 | Oct., 1990 | Nishizawa et al. | 362/100.
|
5057975 | Oct., 1991 | Evigan | 362/100.
|
5179325 | Jan., 1993 | Argon, Jr. | 315/138.
|
5541817 | Jul., 1996 | Hung.
| |
5611613 | Mar., 1997 | Bergen et al.
| |
5715709 | Feb., 1998 | Lai | 70/25.
|
5832752 | Nov., 1998 | Zeller | 70/30.
|
Primary Examiner: O'Shea; Sandra
Assistant Examiner: Ward; John A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gunn, Lee & Keeling
Claims
I claim:
1. A lighting accessory for a combination pad lock having one or more dials
for operating the pad lock, said accessory comprising:
a casing member;
light emitting means for emitting light from a portion of said casing
member in which said light emitting means is incorporated;
a power cell positioned inside said casing member and operably interfaced
with said light emitting means for providing power to said light emitting
means;
light actuation means operable from the exterior of said casing member and
integrated into a circuit which includes said light emitting means and
said power cell for reversibly actuating said light emitting means for
emitting light and casting said light on said one or more dials; and
casing attachment means for attaching said casing member to a pad lock in a
position, relative to said pad lock, whereby said light emitting means,
when actuated, casts light on said one or more dials of said pad lock.
2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said casing attachment means comprises
at first and second holes formed in said casing member through which first
and second holes a lock hasp of said pad lock extends to engage said
accessory with said pad lock and position said light emitting means for
casting light on said lock's actuation dial or dials.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Applicant's invention relates to locks, and more particularly to pad locks
and accessories useful in association therewith.
2. Background Information
Pad locks in this country are ubiquitous. They are used in countless
settings, including many in which, during the dark hours, are not lighted
sufficiently to enable a user to operate the lock without added,
artificial light.
The problem of operating a lock with inadequate light is exacerbated when a
combination lock is involved. Most people can "grope" for the keyhole in a
keyed lock, but there is no such option with a combination lock. One
either visualizes the dial or thumb rollers, or he or she will not be able
to operate the lock--it is that simple.
The typical solutions to such a problem as not being able to see a
combination lock in the dark involve trying to hold a flashlight in one's
mouth (it usually takes both hands to effectively operate a combination
pad lock), in some cases, such as outside gates, trying to orient one's
vehicle where the headlights will shine on the lock, lighting a match or
cigarette lighter (with obvious hazards), or in some way trying to orient
the lock in a way that some ambient light might just be reflected
sufficiently to enable the user to see well enough to operate the lock. Of
course, flashlights are not always available (or working), a vehicle is
not always nearby, most people these days do not carry matches or
cigarette lighters, and there may not be any ambient light.
Thus far, no provider of pads locks has made available any solution to the
problems described above, which solutions reside with the lock itself.
It would be desirable to provide some means by which a dial(s) of a
combination pad lock can be illuminated by some feature or accessory of
the lock itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel design
alteration for existing pad lock design which provides lighting for user
operable portions of the surfaces thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel accessory
for use with existing pad locks which provides lighting for user operable
portions of the surfaces thereof.
In satisfaction of these and related objectives, Applicant's present
invention provides a design for both an internally based design feature
and an add-on accessories, both of which provide lighting which is
directed to the dial(s) of conventional combination pad locks. Applicant's
invention permits lock users to operate pad locks in darkened conditions,
without needing any ancillary lighting or lighting accessories
(flashlights, etc.).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention
shown mounted on a conventional combination pad lock with a front dial
configuration.
FIG. 2 is a perspective, bottom view of a lock with case bottom positioned
combination dials with a second embodiment of the present invention shown
engaged therewith.
FIG. 3 is an elevational side view of the assemblage of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is front elevational view of the assemblage of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the second embodiment of the present
lighting accessory invention, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, an accessory of the present invention for addition to
an existing pad lock A is identified by the reference numeral 10. Although
different embodiments may appear completely different, from a visual
appearance standpoint, lighting accessory 10 will, in any form, involve a
casing 12 from which extends a light bulb casing 14 in which a light bulb
or other low power LED type light source is encased. Internal to casing 12
is a power source (such a watch battery type cells [not shown in the
drawings]) and some switching means which serves to close the lighting
circuit and actuate the light.
The preferred embodiment of accessory 10 is that depicted in FIG. 1. The
casing 12 of lighting accessory 10 has two holes 14 formed therethrough,
which are spaced whereby the lock hasp B extends through both holes 14 as
depicted.
Although many variations of switching means are possible, a simple push
button switch 16 may be used. Incorporated within the circuitry are means
which cause the light source in lighting accessory 10 to light for a
predetermined time period (such as fifteen seconds) without the user
having to keep depressing the switch 16. Such circuitry is well known in
lighting accessory arts (such as the push button lights involved with
wristwatches, such as are sold under the INDIGLO brand name).
Lighting accessory 10 can easily be positioned on the hasp B of an existing
pad lock A. Although lock hasp B is moved as the lock A opens, and one
side of lighting accessory 10 may be disengaged from pad lock A, lighting
accessory 10 will remain in stable engagement with pad lock A because of
the continued engagement via the second hole 14 on the side of pad lock A
where no gap opens between hasp B and the rest of the body of pad lock A.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, alternative embodiments of the present
invention would be for use with locks which, instead of front-mounted
dials as shown in FIG. 1, include lock base positioned dials C. Second
lighting accessory 20 would be one which, in the preferred embodiment,
snaps on to a lock having dials C, and projects light thereon. Second
lighting accessory 20 would include a casing 22, at least two mounting
clips 24 (which are slightly biased for a snap fit onto a lock), and a
lighting panel 26. In lighting panel 26 is to be housed an elongate LED
light source to provide relatively uniform lighting over all of the dials
C. In this embodiment of the present invention, a preferred switching
means may be one which is completely encased on casing 22 and which is
actuated by merely squeezing the casing in a bulbous region 28. As with
lighting accessory 10, lighting accessory 20 would include time delay
features for actuating the light source of a predetermined time upon
actuating the switching means.
Although not depicted in separate drawings a third embodiment of the
present invention is to be incorporated into pad locks of new
construction. Such an embodiment of the present invention will involve
simply incorporating circuitry such as just described, into the lock case
itself, and with light source and switching means which extend from the
case. Present lock manufacturers may simply incorporate the circuitry and
power sources thus far described into dead space provided by existing lock
designs and provide orifices though which a light emitting member (bulb,
LED, etc.) and some actuation means may extend. In the case of a front
position dial (as in FIG. 1), a tiny light bulb would extend from a single
orifice just above the dial reference marker found on most locks. On locks
such as lock C described above, a protruding, elongate lighting panel or
ridge would be involved.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific
embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited
sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as
alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons
skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention.
It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such
modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.
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